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Just launched: Plum, the Netflix for baby clothes

“There’s got to be a better way,’ I thought, while sifting through piles of gifts and hand-me-downs. My first baby is due in October, and amidst the excitement I wondered how I’ll ever handle all this…stuff. The idea for Plum was born as I explained to my husband the ideal solution: If someone could drop matched bundles of my favorite brands at my door in the right sizes, already laundered with organic products. Then I thought: ‘Good grief, why isn’t someone already doing this?’ I decided that someone could be me.”

-Caroline O’Connor, the Founder of Plum

Plum is a brilliant San Francisco based startup that is falling in line with the Airbnbs, Zipcars and GetArounds of the world by tapping into the idea of collaborative consumption, and delivering products that everyone can use and benefit from. The beautifully designed Plum website acts like the Netflix of baby clothes, renting clothes until you’re done with them. You can choose from bundles of two, four or seven outfits at a time with plans starting at $16.00 per month up to $49.00 per month. That’s just $50 a month for an outfit every day of the week. After your child outgrows the clothes, you mail them back to Plum and the company sends you a new set of larger outfits. Plum organically launders the clothes and ships them off to another set of parents.

Plum buys high end baby brands such as Kate Quinn Organics, Petit Bateau, Egg Baby and Tea Collection. Clothing with stains or spills are donated to foster care. You’ll only receive clothes in perfect condition. Outfits will ship via USPS. One free round-trip is included in your subscription each month. To return and receive new clothes more frequently, there is a $7.95 shipping charge. The idea for Plum came after O’Connor spent the last two years at Stanford’s d.school and participated in its 10-week start-up course, Launchpad.

Courtney Boyd Myers is the founder of audience.io, a transatlantic company designed to help New York and London based technology startups grow internationally.
Previously, she was the Features Editor and East Coast Editor of TNW covering New York City startups and digital innovation. She loves magnets + reading on a Kindle.
You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter @CBM and Google +.